Capers Inspire Rebellious Fun
Are you fascinated by likeable con artists and criminal masterminds?
I adore stories about capers and heists. Perhaps because I’m a goody-goody who follows all the rules, it tickles me to watch good-guy criminals fool wicked corporations or big-time con artists.
Capers are over-the-top, fanciful, and playful, with happy endings and comic set pieces. Heists let us dream of spending obscene amounts of money, if only for a while.
For your viewing pleasure, here are some caper and heist stories with a feel-good vibe. If you go for talented rogues with panache and humor, get comfy on the couch. You’re going to need a lot of popcorn.
Film
How to Steal a Million (1966), starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter 'O’Toole. In this romantic comedy caper, a socialite charms an insurance investigator to help her steal a statue to save her father.
The Sting (1973), starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. A sympathetic Depression-era grifter is in over his head conning an organized crime boss.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001), starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt. This slick multi-casino heist is fun to watch and shines with star power.
Television
Lupin (Current, French), starring Omar Sy. Inspired by the Arsène Lupin novels, this brilliant update makes class and race central as master-of-disguise Assane Diop avenges his late father.
Leverage (2008–2012), starring Timothy Hutton. High-tech con artists and thieves deliver restitution to victims of the corrupt and powerful.
Kaleidoscope: (Current), Starring Giancarlo Esposito. Color-themed episodes are shown in random order to dramatize a heist 25 years in the making. Viewers will interpret events differently, depending on the order in which they see them.
Creative Prompt:
If you were forced to take one thing, what would you steal?
Image Prompt:
The crown collage and the cat heist pictures are meant to inspire, either in combination or individually. I’m looking forward to your cat heist costumes, royal sweaters, and Fort Knox flower beds!
Until next time, happy viewing and creating.
Maaja
I'm not a fan of capers at all so I haven't read Erica Ridley's Wild Wynchesters series but I do love her writing and the series has won a bunch of accolades, especially the books featuring diverse MCs. (One is a Sapphic story that has won mention in all kinds of articles about the genre, the most recent feature a black couple.) In her words: "Join the fun with the wild Wynchesters, a tight-knit family of caper-committing siblings finding adventure and love in Regency England!"